U.S. Consulate General in Dubai Shares Election Day Watch Breakfast

From the Election Watch Event 2012

Consul General Robert Waller

November 7, Dubai – The U.S. Consulate General in Dubai hosted a breakfast to celebrate “The 2012 American Presidential Election Day” at the Raffles Hotel in Dubai.  Members of the media, civil society, business and financial communities, academics, students, and U.S. citizens attended.  Guests were treated to live coverage of the U.S. Presidential Election on five English and Arabic language broadcasts and provided complimentary copies of the International Tribune Herald, election literatures, biographies of President Barack Obama and Challenger Mitt Romney, party buttons, pens, miniature U.S. and Emirati flags, and stationary.

 U.S. Consul General Rob Waller welcomed guests and took the opportunity to express how the U.S. Presidential Election is a great day for democracy and how each one historically has been essential for the peaceful transition of power in the United States.  The Consul General emphasized that the 2012 election not only empowers ordinary citizens to shape the future of the United States, but that it is an opportunity for Americans to stand together as a single nation.

President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney campaigned vigorously and each held different views on the economic direction of the United States as well as foreign policy objectives.  On November 6, more than 100 million Americans cast their votes for the presidency.  President Barack Obama received 51 percent of the popular vote and Governor Romney obtained 48 percent.  The Electoral College- -the total of electors- - is a key factor that ensures a balance of power between the national government, the 50 states, and the District of Columbia.  A candidate must earn 270 Electoral College votes to win the presidency.  President Obama won 332 votes and Governor Romney received 206 electoral votes.